ModelBest secures fresh funding to accelerate on-device AI deployment

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 23, China's ModelBest announced that it has recently closed a new financing round worth several hundred million yuan. The proceeds will be primarily directed toward expanding R&D efforts in high-efficiency on-device large models and accelerating the commercialization of edge AI technologies.

ModelBest said the successful fundraising reflects both the expanding market potential for on-device intelligence and strong investor confidence in the company's technical capabilities, market position and long-term outlook. As one of China's earliest large-model developers focused on edge intelligence, ModelBest has built a comprehensive theoretical framework and a diversified product portfolio. Its MiniCPM on-device models have already been deployed at scale across automobiles, smartphones, PCs and smart home devices, supported by deep collaborations with major players such as Geely, Changan, Volkswagen and Huawei. This has placed the company at the forefront of commercializing on-device large models in China.

Earlier this year, ModelBest marked a key milestone in automotive applications when its on-device model entered mass production in April through a collaboration with Changan Mazda and Phoenix Auto Intelligence, debuting on the MAZDA EZ-60, a strategic new energy model. In September, Geely's Galaxy M9, a large six-seat AI-enabled flagship SUV went on sale globally, also adopted the MiniCPM multimodal model. The partnership delivered a new generation of human–vehicle interaction, further strengthening ModelBest's footprint in intelligent cockpit solutions.

ModelBest CEO Li Dahai said the company is grateful for the trust and support of its investors. He noted that ModelBest aims to work closely with ecosystem partners to deploy efficient on-device large models across massive numbers of terminals, delivering accessible and innovative intelligent experiences to consumers. Against a backdrop of supportive policies, rapid technological iteration and expanding application scenarios, Li said the new funding will enable ModelBest to step up investment and maintain its leadership position in the fast-evolving on-device AI market.